Archived Pharmacy Announcements

Attention Kentucky Medicaid Members: New warnings about the use of Acetaminophen (Tylenol)

On Aug. 1, 2013, the Food and Drug Administration issued a warning that acetaminophen (name brands include Tylenol) products may cause serious skin reactions. Prescription medications containing acetaminophen, over-the-counter medications containing acetaminophen, products containing only acetaminophen and products containing acetaminophen in combination with other medications may cause serious skin reactions. These skin reactions may cause reddening of the skin, rash, blisters and detachment of the upper surface of the skin. These reactions could be life threatening. If you have a skin reaction and you are taking acetaminophen, stop taking the medicine immediately and call your doctor.

To help prevent the potential for serious liver disease, members are encouraged to keep their daily dose of acetaminophen to no more than 3,000 mg per day.

Older Announcements

National Prescription Drug Toss - Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013 -The Drug Enforcement Administration has designated Saturday, Oct 26, 2013, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. a drug take-back day. The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day provides safe, convenient and responsible prescription drug disposal and educates the public about the potential for medication abuse. According to a recent report by the Trust for America's Health, Kentucky has the third-highest rate of fatal overdoses. The majority of these deaths are from prescription medications. More than 70 prescription drug collection sites in Kentucky currently are scheduled to be open on Saturday, Oct. 26, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. for drug tossing. Find a drug disposal location in your area. We hope Kentuckians will participate in this event and help rid Kentucky of the potential harm from unnecessary prescription drugs.

Notice regarding Omontys Recall - 02/24/2013: FDA is alerting health care providers and patients of a voluntary nationwide recall of ALL lots of Omontys Injection by Affymax and Takeda Pharmaceuticals. The recall is due to reports of anaphylaxis, some fatal. Omontys is used to treat anemia in adult dialysis patients. Until further notice, health care providers should stop using Omontys and return the product to Takeda. For details, please visit the FDA page and the Takeda/Affymax News Release.

Announcement - 5010 D.O Information -Please be advised that the Department for Medicaid Services and the Magellan Medicaid Administration will be transitioning from NCPDP Version 5.1 to NCPDP Version D.0 in the Kentucky Medicaid Pharmacy Program on Jan. 1, 2012. Updates

Announcement 2009-2010 RSV Season- Sept. 1, 2009 - The Department for Medicaid Services has made a change in policy related to the use of Synagis®. The department will closely follow the new recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics for the appropriate utilization of Synagis® for the prevention of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). As a result, the 2009 RSV season will begin Nov. 1, 2009 and continue through March 31, 2010. Synagis Flyer , Provider Notice for Synagis, Synagis Prior Authorization Request Form